den

oned on and on, walking to the boardroom as I went. I was i

more than I

it," Gerard said again. "I could really use

was always like that with us. But he also knew how busy I was, and

ook into might also end up

he court of public opinion. We're talking about a big scandal here. I can't give the name of t

ting quickly. But send me the important details, so I

I would have the required documen

me. I had excused myself not too long ago to take this call. It was urge

as a process that wasn't interrupted. I sighed, there had been nothing that I c

took up my seat again. "It was an urgent

ding sincere. "I understand that you're a busy

told her, keeping my eyes firmly on her fa

intelligent ones. I crossed them every day in my life, in my line of w

't her brains and beauty. There was something else, something more. It was like an underc

people that loved to follow rules, we were people that didn't get into fights, or arguments. We were used to arguing only wh

not

nd of woman that fit into that mold. She had a fighter's spiri

sure there were so many other things that s

o her lap for a moment, then back up. "The

to speak. I would give it to her. When she didn't say

head. What would it be like to touch her? Not lightl

s briefly and o

aring at my face again. "Out of ever

he was looking for a reason and an answer to everything. She wanted either confirm

that it was a father wound. Or there

nswer honestl

y. "This interview isn't based on your resume, since we don't even have i

. But we hadn't. The truth was that I didn't know if she had even graduated, other than the

began again. "

the one printed on the back of the card, is simple. It's a burner phone with a n

ed in his time, and one that I w

But the number only activates after I talk. I tell everyone to call me when they're ready. But the number only works for t

ars later, they would sti

hat are brave. For those who want to grab an opportunity as it comes to

eserved it. She was not a lawyer yet, but when the time

to say. I didn't want to end the meeting, though. I wanted to keep sitting and talking t

iving thing. And there was alway

d always be something new t

Rose asked, turning to look at

o guess where he

h a slight laugh, it was what everyone alway

shook h

"Why criminal and family? Why choose thos

the degrees, especially new employees. They often asked their questions to seem intere

ting question, I would a

many criminals are criminals because they had a rough childhood? Because their parents hadn't been th

surprise on her face, and then

ily law," she told me, "we could b

tudy, and I would like to g

other employee, not someone to persona

too quickly. She was intelligent and eager, and she seemed interested in the world around h

dn't let t

have to remember that it was all she was. Ano

h her. I couldn't allow that to happen. No

it had never truly been a part of me. And I had lived l

that it was only then more imp

you would like to specialize in yet?" I aske

doing, and this wa

a beat. "I was thinking of doing

had really th

d any help, I can guide you. I still have all my old research and

utting more barriers up between myself and her, no

gratitude on her face. "I would appreciate that

"But to be perfectly honest, if you already have a topic, then that means you are already off to a great

ughed l

es I'm over-prepared, and sometimes I show up to the beach and have to skin

I needed in my head. Not when I was alrea

" I told her and then t

to have a

gs to me, then I had to smother it before it became something more. I

sure that everything would stay b